Podcast 119, Jude, Pt B

In Jude, Pt A, We discussed Jude verses 1-6 which included the War in Heaven and our First Estate. In this podcast we discuss Lucifer being cast out of heaven and continue with Jude verses 7-25.

Revelation 14:12-15

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Lucifer and his angels are the ones who did not keep their first estate. That makes earth the Second Estate. Those of us who came to earth to gain a body kept our first estate. That means we were on the side of Michael. We stood for Christ and rejected Lucifer. We were all Christians before we were born, and we are all born with the Spirit of Christ, for he is the life.

We are now in our Second Estate. Those of us who remain true to Christ on earth and endure to the end will be those who keep their Second Estate. Where we live in our Third Estate will be determined on how well we keep our Second Estate. Jude defines those who do not keep their Second Estate.

Jude 1:7-9

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Sodom and Gomorrah symbolize the world just as Egypt and Babylon symbolize the world. Those who follow the natural man will not live with Christ in their Third Estate. Jude further said,

Jude 1:10-13

But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Again, mankind is compared to stars. We choose whom we will follow for the battle against Satan is now raging on earth as it once raged in heaven. Those stars who fought against Lucifer and his angels in heaven, he is trying to win over on earth. He failed to persuade them to follow him in their First Estate. Now he wants them to follow him in their Second Estate. The war against Lucifer really didn’t end. It just continued on earth.

We have more than one witness.

Jude 1:14-15

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Enoch is a fascinating prophet. The Bible speaks very little of Enoch, but what the Bible does reveal is inspiring.

Genesis 5:18-24

And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

“For God took him” means that he did not die but was translated. Paul speaks of the translation of Enoch.

Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

The other prophet that we know who was translated was Elijah.

2 Kings 2:11

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

We know he was translated for he appears on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses and Jesus.

Matthew 17:1-3

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Elijah. Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, speaking of the last days, prophesies of the coming of Elijah before Christ returns.”

Malachi 4:1-6

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Jewish traditions take the words of Malachi very seriously. During the Passover meal they set out an additional cup wine to symbolize the return of Elijah. In addition, at the end of the ceremonial meal, the front door is opened in hope of his return. During the brit milah (circumcision) an empty ceremonial chair is prepared called “The Chair of Elijah.” Elijah serves as a witness that Israel continues to keep God’s covenant with Abraham. Elijah is associated with the last days, with “the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” His purpose is to warn the wicked, encourage repentance, restore Israel, and prepare the world for God’s kingdom.

Christians also have a strong tradition concerning the return of Elijah.

Luke 1:16-17

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Many Christians take the prophecy of Malachi literally. For example, turning “the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” means restoring family relationships.

To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the prophecy of Malachi refers to genealogy work which means temple work for the dead. The Doctrine and Covenants records that Elijah returned to the earth in the Kirkland temple and restored the keys of the gathering of Israel.

Doctrine and Covenants 110:11-16

After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come— To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse— Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.

Ancient Catholic theology also has a strong tradition regarding the return of Elijah. Early Catholic fathers took literally Malachi’s words as well as the words in Matthew 17

Matthew 17:11

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

In Ecclesiasticus, a book accepted by the early Catholic Fathers, written by a Jewish scribe living in Jerusalem, a reference similar to Malachi speaks of the return of Elijah.

Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

Jude is also speaking of the last days when he compared our times with Sodom and Gomorrah.